Painting trim tabs

[comsnark]

The boat: 280SS. 1997. Kept in salt.

The question: I have aluminum trim tabs. Should they be painted? If painted, do I use hull paint or outdrive paint?

Background: I can tell that they once were painted, but they have not been painted since I have the boat. First painting (under my ownership) was by a dealer that left the tabs relatively bare. Last year and this year, I am doing the painting. Marine growth on the tabs by late November (when I haul out) is "impressive".

 

[Ricky]

If you don't paint them as least you have something to look at as the boat gets hauled....

 

[Warren]

Mine are painted and I would give yours a quick coat of ablative paint every 2-3 years just to keep them free of marine growth. And don't paint the zincs.
Cheers,
Warren

 

[sbw1]

Mine are not painted. Boat came with bottom paint from the factory but not on the tabs.

 

[rondds]

are you sure they're aluminum and not stainless? actually it doesnt matter since cuprous paint breeds the "dissimilar metals in an electrolytic environment" issue. i didnt paint them on my crownline, which i bought new, but on this boat, they were painted so that's the way i keep em - havent had any problems with electrolysis.

if you're sure they're aluminum, i'd use outdrive antifouling b/c aluminum is extremely soft. if they're stainless, i'd just use whatever bottom paint you are using.

 

[comsnark]

ah. . crap. . .I just assumed the suckers were aluminum. What is standard for trim tab material? Yes. .. there is a 3 or 4" zinc on each tab. I am smart enough to not paint those. . . .but not smart enough to know how to treat these *$*#@ tabs.

 

[topgun1185]

paint them with the same as the bottom it been done like this for years.

 

[rondds]

if you take one tab zinc off and look at that part of the tab under the zinc (should NOT be painted) you'll be able to tell aluminum or stainless. i seriously doubt they'd be aluminum. that being said, paint them with bottom paint and happy boating.

 

[comsnark]

Sounds good to me! Bottom paint it is!